Air pollution
‘Cleaner and healthier living one step at a time’
Air pollution affects us all, it significantly affects our health as well as being a huge contributor to climate change. Staying fit and healthy and cleaning our air go hand and hand and this guide is a list of local resources, businesses and schemes and projects in Colchester that can help us to all limit car use and make the air more liveable and cleaner in colchester.
The best way to achieve cleaner air is by following the travel hierarchy.
Clean air groups and visions
Clean Air Colchester is a voluntary group raising awareness, fostering collaboration and taking action on air pollution. Use this website to learn tips and see how you can help. Join their Facebook group to stay up to date with events and get involved in discussion
Clean Air for Colchester To support air quality improvements in the borough, Colchester Borough Council were awarded funding to manage a two-year Clean Air for Colchester project. This community-led project aims to cut pollution from cars, buses and vans.
Check out the Clean air Colchester video a great video to share schools, employees and other individuals.
En-form transport page information and initiatives to help residents and business owners in Colchester cut their carbon footprint when it comes to travel.
Walking
Walk Colchester lobbies for improvements and accessibility for walkers, organises annual Jane’s Walk weekend, created the Colchester Orbital.
There are extensive walking networks across Colchester, that enables you to make cleaner journeys throughout the borough. The Colchester Orbital was developed by Walk Colchester
Essex County Council’s walking strategy for Colchester is a response to the challenges and opportunities of walking in Essex, it outlines in detail the steps being taken to encourage walking at present and the direction that will be taken in the future
Cycling
Colchester Cycling Campaign actively lobbying for improvements to Colchester’s cycling infrastructure and lots of useful advice on cycling, buying a bike etc
Essex County Council cycling action plan for Colchester. The purpose is to set out the key elements of a long term plan that will lead to a significant and sustained increase in cycling in Essex, establishing it in the public’s mind as a ‘normal or regular’ mode of travel, especially for short A-to-B trips, and as a major participation activity and sport for all ages.
Encourage individuals and organisations to sign the Colchester Cycling Charter recognising the importance cycling is to making our town a vibrant place for people, businesses, organisations and schools to work, study, thrive and do business.
Cycle Colchester for monthly newsletter re what is happening in Colchester and downloadable network maps.
Colchester E-cargo Bike Delivery Project offers delivery of goods & foods from local businesses by electric bike. Get your shopping delivered by bike and reduce congestion and pollution in Colchester.
Brought by bike is a directory of companies and tradespeople from across the UK who deliver by bike. There are many Colchester based businesses registered here.
Colchester Bike Kitchen and Wivenhoe Bike Kitchen Community led, go and borrow tools and get friendly advice, guidance and support on how to repair your bike, also offer workshops on bike maintenance.
Happy Handlebars provide gentle and enjoyable cycle rides and cycling refresher and confidence sessions to encourage people of all ages and abilities to enjoy cycling. As well as learn to fix your bike sessions
Route 51 Cycle Project where you can donate your old bike to support the local community, bikes saved from landfill, repaired and given new homes. Get your bike serviced or repaired for a fraction of the price of the big stores. a registered community led social enterprise
Re-Cycle Donate your old bikes to be sent to help communities that lack transport in Africa, buy good quality second hand bikes and help with Re-Cycle’s fundraising
Safer Essex Roads Partnership offers adult confidence sessions, learn to ride and Bikeability, also Extra Eyes campaign to submit footage of near misses etc.
The Colchester & Abberton BOMAs opening up the outdoors to mobility-restricted walkers and chair users
Wheels for Wellbeing exists to enhance disabled people’s lives by ensuring that anyone can access the physical, emotional, practical and social benefits of cycling
Dr Bike run by Cycling UK is a campaign encouraging bike use by helping people to repair and service their bikes to make them road worthy. Whether you’re a mechanic that wants to register, a business that wants to hold an event for your staff or you have a bike to repair, use the website to find out more. Dr Bike is available through many operators in Colchester.
Buses
Colchester Bus Users Group C-BUS was formed to give a voice to bus users in the Colchester area. They aim to act as a link between passengers, the bus companies, and the local authorities.
First Essex School / College Services information on discount travel for students
There is a Park and Ride service that operates throughout Colchester with regular stops on its route, making it a convenient sustainable travel option.
Electric Vehicles
Spin UK provide electric scooters across Colchester which can be hired using an app and pay online service.
QGOUK is an E-mobility start-up offering eco-friendly delivery concept to enable the ride-sharing of food, packages and people.
Join the Colchester Electric Vehicle Society a group for local owners, enthusiasts, and as a place for locals to get independent advice and guidance and ask questions about EVs.
Electric vehicles are one option for sustainable travel at this current time, the Council is trying to accommodate this growth by providing a number of electric charging points across the borough. There are also a variety of grant schemes that the Government offers to encourage the ownership of electric vehicles and for the installation of electric vehicle charging points.
Carwow is an interactive Electric Car charging point finder tool to help EV and hybrid car owners find the nearest electric vehicle charging stations.
GRIDSERVE offers EV charging infrastructure across the UK, as well as an EV charging points finder and other useful resources around electric cars.
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